playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
1
: full of play : frolicsome, sportive
a playful kitten
2
playfully adverb
playfulness noun

Examples of playful in a Sentence

She's an old dog, but she's still very playful. He had a playful expression on his face. a playful tone of voice You're certainly in a playful mood! She gave him a light playful slap on the knee.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The two then engaged in playful flirtation that escalated into a steamy encounter in another stall. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 18 May 2025 Plus, the playful green shade will add a pop of color to any summer travel wardrobe. Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2025 The moment instantly sparked playful reactions cross the internet with some cheekily demanding the robot get its act together. Caché McClay, USA Today, 18 May 2025 From playful menus to bold colors, these ideas go beyond the standard post-ceremony sheet cake. ​​Olivia Pollock is an etiquette and hosting expert at Evite. Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for playful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of playful was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playful. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

playful

adjective
play·​ful ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
1
: full of play : fond of playing
a playful kitten
2
: humorous
a playful tone of voice
playfully adverb
playfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on playful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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